Talk show host Oprah Winfrey visits the set of Colonial House, meets the Colonists and finds out what life was like back in 1628 by becoming a colonist herself.

Governor Wyers and the new colonists, which include three families and seven individuals, arrive in 1628 New England where they must build a colony using tools of the time. The participants of this project soon realize that Colonial House isn't going to be as fun as they hoped as the pains of hard work and the lack modern conveniences soon take their toll.

Assistant governor and lay preacher Don Heinz has his hands full when he finds that the colonists don't all follow the same faith and he soon must take over the duties of governor after an emergency forces Governor Wyers to depart.

Governor Wyers returns only to find that that majority of the colonists must face punishments due to their modern-day behaviour which clashes with the laws of colonial times. The lucky ones get scarlet letters while the not-so-lucky ones are tied to stakes for being non-believers.

11 new settlers arrive making the current living situations very cramped so the colonists must now work together to build a new house under orders from the governor.

As the colony loses faith in Gov. Wyers, he hands over his two indentured servants and household belongings to help pay for his family's passage home which causes a power shift resulting in lay preacher Don Heinz becoming the new governor.

Cape merchant and treasurer Jack Lecza arrives on behalf of the sponsoring company to check up on the new venture causing feelings of pressure and unsettlement amongst the Colonists.

The Colonists feel that they're on the path to growth and prosperity but success doesn't come without a price. Meanwhile, tensions rise between Cape Merchant Lecza and Gov. Heinz.

It's September 29 and the Colonists decorate the village with husks of dried corn, fir boughs and ribbons in celebration of Michaelmas, the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. Finally, the Colonists prepare to depart for the 21st century after their performance is assessed by a panel of experts.